Cafe manager killed while wrestling gun from madman

Owen Jacques is an award-winning investigative journalist from Mackay, now based on the Sunshine Coast as APN Australian Regional Media’s Online News Editor. He has a strong background reporting on politics, business and breaking news. Owen has also specialised in resources reporting, which included a successful campaign to fight 100% fly-in, fly-out mining in rural Queensland towns.

BIZARRE videos filmed during the siege have been published online, showing hostages making demands on behalf of captor Man Haron Monis.

In the footage, released on LiveLeak, the hostages make a list of demands including that politicians acknowledge that Australia is "under attack" by the Islamic State and that the Prime Minister contact Monis on a "live feed".

In exchange for doing these things, the hostages say Monis would have released some of them.

The hostage also warns there are bombs planted around Sydney, so demands should be met as soon as possible.

The footage was reportedly distributed to major media outlets during the siege on Monday but all refused to run it, following advice from authorities.

Monis was killed about 2am Sydney time on Tuesday as police stormed the Lindt Chocolate Cafe, following a 16-hour siege.

Commissioner Andrew Scipione this morning walked through Martin Place, paying tribute to all those held hostage.

Flags are flying at half mast as Australia mourns the loss of the two killed in the senseless hostage crisis that was ended by police using force early this morning, including those on Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Harriette Denny is released from the Lindt Chocolate Cafe in Sydney's Martin Place where she had been kept hostage for 16 hours

[7.40AM] Tony Abbott addresses the nation

Appearing on television this morning, the Prime Minister has paid tribute to the bravery of hostages and the work of those who rescued them.

"There is nothing more Australian than dropping in at the local cafe for a morning coffee and it's tragic beyond words that people going about their everyday business should have been caught up in such a horrific incident"

He described gunman Man Haron Monis as having "a long history of violent crime, infatuation with extremism and mental instability".

"He sought to cloak his actions with the symbolism of the ISIL death cult.

"Tragically, there are people in our community ready to engage in politically motivated violence.

He said Australians should be confident that our police are capable of handling such threats.

"These events do demonstrate that even a country as free, as open, as generous and as safe as ours is vulnerable to acts of politically motivated violence but they also remind us that Australia and Australians are resilient and we are ready to respond."

Mr Abbott said there were "lessons to be learned" from the incident, which will now be thoroughly examined.

New South Wales Premier Mike Baird and NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione are now urging Sydney to come together, to shake themselves out of the fear that Man Haron Monis attempted to sow in their city.

This was a "vicious, horrendous attack that has taken place in the heart of our city".

"Our first thoughts and prayers this morning are with the innocent victims of this horrendous, vicious attack," Mr Baird said.

"I want to say to their family and friends that everyone in New South Wales stands besides you.

"They stand beside you today, they stand beside you tomorrow, they will stand beside you forever."

In the past 24 hours, Mr Baird said police "saved many, many lives" and in the process, risked their own.

He urged Sydney to return to business as usual, to provide support to those who now walk free after their 16-hour ordeal, but most of all, Mr Baird wants NSW to unite.

"I say to everyone in NSW, today we must come together like never before."

"We are stronger together. "We will get through this.

"But the events that we have seen have shaken us, but they do not dampen our resolve."

[8:30PM:] Australian Muslims condemn the actions of the Sydney gunman holding hostages

AUSTRALIAN Muslim groups have come together to condemn the actions of at least one gunman holding people hostage at a Sydney cafe.

At 8.44 am Queensland time, the man sieged the Lindt Chocolat Cafe at Marvin Place and made hostages hold up an Islamic flag.

More than 40 Australian Muslim groups released a joint statement on Monday to ensure the community and country knew their thoughts.

"We reject any attempt to take the innocent life of any human being or to instil fear and terror into their hearts," they said in a statement.

"Any such despicable act only serves to play into the agendas of those who seek to destroy the goodwill of the people of Australia and to further damage and ridicule the religion of Islam and Australian Muslims throughout this country," it added.

"Our immediate thoughts go to the hostages and their loved ones.

"We pray for their safety and hope this matter is resolved quickly and peacefully."

THE NSW Premier has urged Sydney residents that work inside the Martin Place zone to work from home tomorrow.

His message comes through a press conference just now with Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione who indicated police are preparing for the hostage situation to last for days.

"Our plan... our only goal tonight and as long as it takes is to get those people caught in that building out safely," Mr Scipione said.

"We have the best negotiators in the world on the job right now."

"I will not be going into the tactics or strategies that we are employing, suffice to say we have large numbers of police, they are in contact and we are working to resolve this just as quickly as we possibly can," he said.

"For those that have loved ones that may be caught up in this, for those that may be in that particular building, rest assured we are doing all we can to set you free."

NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione confirmed one of the hostages had been taken to hospital, but for a pre-existing medical condition.

Premier Mike Baird and NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione also revealed they have had a conference call with Islamic leaders.

Premier Baird the leaders expressed their full confidence and support in the NSW police.

"We are in this together," he said.

The Premier encouraged Sydney workers and residents to go about as normal tomorrow morning. However there will be a couple of changes.

"There will continue to be an exclusion zone around Martin Place. So if you work in this exclusion zone, I will ask you to work from home tomorrow."

Police still won't confirm how many people involved in this hostage crisis, or whether the five who ran out were released/escaped.

Sydney radio personality Ray Hadley has told the media he has spoken to one of the 50 hostages inside the Lindt Chocolate Cafe, who called his show under instruction from those in control.

National media is now reporting that it is likely just one gunman inside the Lindt store. This is yet to be verified.

He told the Sydney Morning Herald he refused to put the caller to air because it was in noone's interest.

"I could hear the person in the background giving instructions to the young man I was talking to.

"The young man, remarkably, was quite calm, quite clam, and he was quite happy for us to have his phone number and said, 'I want you to ring me back in 10 minutes for further instructions from the man holding us hostage".

News Corp's Daily Telegraph has put out a "special 2PM edition" in response to the siege.

NEW South Wales Premier Mike Baird and Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione have attempted to calm Sydneysiders as the hostage crisis in Martin Place continues into its fourth hour.

Mr Baird said the city and its police were being "tested", but it was a trial it would overcome.

He praised police for acting decisively, then paid homage to those still imprisoned by two gunman with suspected links to an ISIS splinter group.

"Importantly now, our thoughts are prayers are with those who are caught up in the situation and we say to them, we are with them," he said.

Commissioner Scipione said it was still not clear why these gunmen had taken the hostages but police were treating the situation as "a terrorist event".

Despite reported threats earlier in the day that "devices" could be located around the city, Comm Scipione said all investigations on that front have come up negative.

Although they are not yet relying on the Australian Federal Police, SAS or army resources, the Commissioner said "we are ready to escalate should we need to but we have vast resources available to us, the best trained, most prepared and professional police in the nation and we are looking to resolve this as quickly as we can".

When asked if he expected such an incident would change Sydney, he responded:

No and it should not, we are incredibly proud of our city.

We are being tested today but the test will be met head on.

I am confident and thankful for the police and their activities and what they have done in the lead up and today, we are incredibly lucky to have them.

[11.57AM] Abbott speaks to nation: We won't let them scare us

Mr Abbott said the 'business of government' would go on, including Treasurer Joe Hockey's release of the national budget update as planned.

An excerpt of his speech below:

We don't yet know the motivation of the perpetrator, we don't know whether this is politically motivated although obviously there are some indications that it could be.

We have to appreciate that even in a society such as ours, there are people who would wish to do us harm, that's why we have police and security organisations of the utmost professionalism that are ready and able to respond to a whole range of situations and contingencies including this situation that we are now seeing in Sydney.

The whole point of politically-motivated violence is to scare people out of being themselves.

Australia is a peaceful, open, and generous society.

Nothing should ever change that and that's why I would urge all Australians today to go about their business as usual.

Of course, if anyone does have any suspicions of untoward activity, there is the national security hotline, 1800 123 400 which I would urge them to call.

[11.50AM] Staffer in Sydney's CBD tells of her building being evacuated at height of crisis

A CBD worker has told APN of their building's evacuation as gunmen took 50 hostages at the Lindt Chocolate Cafe in Sydney's Martin Place.

After first thinking it was an armed hold-up, it quickly became clear that it was something far more sinister.

She said she suspected there to be more than 13 hostages, a fact that was confirmed soon after.

She worried about how many children could be holed up in the cafe, because it is located so close to David Jones.

Read her recount below:

"We are in the BNP Parabis building on Elizabeth street.

"There were lots of police, SWAT teams, police yelling and running around with guns.

"Initially we were told to stay inside and get away from windows then told we had to evacuate via our Castlereagh St entrance.

"Everyone was told to head to Hyde Park. The thought of that scared the hell out of me, thousands and thousands of people gathered in the same spot if there was an attack

"We are diagonal to Channel 7 building"

"The majority of us decided to get out of the CBD by foot. We were glad to get out of our building actually.

"The American consulate is across the road, so is the Reserve Bank etc.

"I feel sick to the stomach for the poor people in the cafe.

"We were initially told it was an armed hold up so we were actually taking it very lightly. We thought it was a thug wanting cash.

"As soon as we saw the Islamic flag you could see the realisation on everyone's faces that this is really serious.

"I am terrified there is children in there, David Jones is just down the street so there are heaps of mums with kids going to see Santa and hanging around Martin Place

Martin Place gunman threatens "devices" across Sydney

[11.32AM] THE gunman currently holding 50 people hostage inside a luxurious cafe in Sydney's Martin Place is reportedly warning negotiators that there are four "devices" located around Sydney.

Authorities are now responding to the unverified threat.

Earlier information suggested there were 13 trapped inside, that number has been revised up significantly in past minutes.

There is not yet any indication that this is a credible threat.

Already the man is understood to have demanded to speak to Prime Minister Tony Abbott live on radio.

Mr Abbott has not responded to the demand. A statement was released from the PM's office, giving full support to the New South Wales Government and its police.

A man unrelated to the hostage crisis has been arrested just 200m from the siege area.

Hostage crisis: First images of 'lead gunman'

[11.06AM] THE first look at the alleged lead gunman holding 13 hostages in the Lindt Chocolate Cafe in Sydney's Martin Place has been broadcast by Channel Seven.

[10.51AM] HOSTAGE takers in Martin Place are reportedly demanding to speak to Prime Minister Tony Abbott.

Sydney 2GB announcer Ray Hadley has told his audience this morning that the central figure in this siege has demanded to speak to the PM live on radio.

Mr Abbott has meanwhile released a statement on the evolving crisis.

The Prime Minister said the incident was "deeply concerning" but was confident that Australian authorities were capable of responding to the situation.

He offered NSW Premier Mike Baird any assistance he needs to help protect those involved.

Full statement below:

New South Wales Police and the Australian Federal Police are currently responding to a reported hostage-taking incident in Martin Place in Sydney.

I have spoken with NSW Premier Mike Baird and offered him all possible Commonwealth support and assistance.

The National Security Committee of Cabinet has also convened for briefings on the situation.

This is obviously a deeply concerning incident but all Australians should be reassured that our law enforcement and security agencies are well trained and equipped and are responding in a thorough and professional manner.

We will provide regular updates as further information becomes available

Mr Baird has put out his own statement, putting his full faith in the state's police and emergency services.

All my thoughts and prayers are with those members of the public affected by the situation in Martin Place and the NSW Police who are trained to deal with these events.

I have spoken to Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione and have full confidence the NSW Police are working effectively to resolve the situation.

I will provide further information as appropriate.

Islamic flag hoisted in Martin Place hostage crisis

THE flag being hung inside the occupied Lindt Chocolate Cafe in Sydney's Martin Place is understood to be a black flag with the words "There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is the messenger of God", although reports suggest it is not specifically an ISIS flag.

Lindt chocolate is not considered Halal-certified.

ABC are relaying "unconfirmed reports" that hostage-takers are wearing backpacks, fuelling concerns they could be carrying an explosive.

Daily Telegraph is reporting there are 13 hostages -- early information put it closer to 20 -- and there are "at least two gunmen" involved.

A huge contingent of police are currently surrounding the building, with reports from the scene suggesting civilians near the scene are being "barricaded" underground.

Michael Silva, speaking to ABC from a between Castlereagh and Elizabeth streets.

"(Police) said don't leave, everyone stay downstairs and they barricaded the place off.

"It's crazy. I think it was a bit -- when it was a siege and everyone was out the front of the cafe watching but I think as soon as the flags went up, everyone went crazy."

The Sydney Opera House has reportedly been evacuated and Sydney air space is also understood to have been shut down in a response to the siege.

Hostages taken in Lindt Chocolate Cafe in Sydney's Martin Place

AT LEAST one armed man has taken over a Sydney cafe where morning restaurant goers have been taken hostage.

Witnesses say a man, armed with a gun walked into the Lindt Chocolate Cafe in Martin Place this morning. Police were called to the cafe around 9.45am NSW time.

Officers with guns drawn have attended the scene and surrounded it.

Sydney Morning Herald is reporting that "about 20 staff and customers" are being held by the gunman.

Martin Place businesses, including the nearby Channel 7 studios, have been evacuated

Sydney airspace has also been reportedly shut down as a result of the Martin Place siege.

A black flag, which has been reported to resemble an ISIS flag, has been seen hanging inside the cafe.

It is now thought to not be an ISIS flag, although it is black and features Arabic text.

Latest reports suggest hostages are being forced to press themselves against the windows.